Planet Earth International 2009

T
ourism and tr
and travelling is likely to encourage fur-
ther development of many Geoparks.
• In recent years the term Geo-Traveling has
become a popular trademark with tourist
agencies, designed to emphasise sustain-
able tourism in areas of natural beauty
and interesting geology. Such tours are
accompanied by guides trained in cul-
tural history, ecotourism, geology, geog-
ansport
raphy and archaeology. Popular journals
like National Geographic or Geo help to
Making it fun
encourage laymen to become interested
in such topics and to take these tours.
Gold panning is an exciting
• Geotourism beneﬁ ts from a wide range of
activity for young people and
media coverage, presenting geologically
adults alike. Parts of the Alps
complicated themes in plain language to offer the possibility of ﬁ nding
the general public through public broad-
minute gold grains in streams.
casting services. Addressing the wonders
Canyoning is greatly appreciated
by the younger generation.
and secrets of planet Earth in popular out-
Here, too, the adventure has a
reach programmes has become a major
geoscience ﬂ avour as well as
challenge for many TV channels around raising public awareness of the
the globe, such as the National Geographic
and Discovery channels, stimulating the »
value of water. Climbing has
Geotourism
a long tradition in Austria and
geology is readily incorporated
call of foreign lands.
incorporates the into it by treating scrutiny of
The case of Austria
concept of sustainable
rocks as a tour through Earth’s
history. Adults and children alike
On a worldwide scale, Austria ranks among tourism.
enjoy fossil collecting. Although
the most popular tourist destinations, rank-
there are no dinosaur remains
in the Alps, there are dozens of
ing as 12th in 2007. The economic impact of geotourism for the purpose of local socio-
places where ancient and bizarre
the tourism and leisure industry is reﬂ ected economic development, generate new
creatures can be discovered.
in the 21 million foreign tourists staying each sources of revenue, educate the younger Hiking through a narrow gorge
year for more than 121 million ‘overnights’ generation and include fun and event
is an alternative to mountain
in this country. Thus, they contribute, di- elements in tourism. For the latter aim the
trekking. Nowhere else is one
closer to nature. Caves, too,
rectly and indirectly, to the more than €21.5 term ‘geo@venture’ has been coined by the
have a certain fascination.
billion spent, or 7.9% of Austria’s GDP. The authors to make geology more visible to the
Some 13,000 caves are ofﬁ cially
whole of this industry, including local resi- public: the adventure of discovering and recognised in Austria but there
dent involvement, accounts for more than witnessing Earth sciences, making every
are probably many more, even
16% of Austria’s GDP. day a new challenge.
those within ice. For more
ambitious adventures, an
It seems logical to regard a fraction of Such Earth adventures are manifold. In
experienced geologically trained
these huge tourist numbers as a potential Austria, 15 modes of adventure identiﬁ ed as
guide should always be in the
target for geotourism. Since Austria occu- being closely related to geology range from group.
pies more than 60% of the Eastern Alps, gold panning and canyoning to nature con-
For geologists, apparently
visitors can choose between thousands servation. Leaﬂ ets describing each activity
dead nature is very much alive,
but introduction to natural
of geologically interesting localities and, are distributed to local tourist ofﬁ ces, leisure
monuments, spectacular rock
in addition, can visit three Geoparks, six industry representatives and local guides.
structures, variety of plants
National Parks, and more than 50 geological Finally, geotourism and protecting nature and animals in rocks, and our
trails, as well as hundreds of geotopes. In should follow four simple principles if they
dependence on certain rocks and
total, about one-quarter of the national ter- are to be successful: (1) less is more, (2)
minerals in our everyday lives is
readily conveyed to the public,
ritory is protected landscape under one or use all senses, (3) tell and feel but don’t
as is the value of these for future
other legal category. touch and (4) an interdisciplinary approach
generations.
Thus, Austria meets the requirements is helpful and will be readily acknowledged Rafting adventures can be
as a reliable holiday destination, readily by any partners. ■
enjoyed on many Alpine streams.
attracting visitors and, in particular, those
Beside the ‘fun factor’, it is
always worth having a quick look
interested in geotourism. The main objec- Dr. Hans P. Schönlaub, Past Director,
at the river bank and its rock
tives are to make the public aware of the Geological Survey of Austria, Kötschach
composition.
role the geosciences play today, encourage 350, 9640 Kötschach-Mauthen, Austria.
110 PLANET EARTH www.yearofplanetearth.org
PE25.Tourism.rky.vp.indd 110 23/2/09 4:16:02 pm
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